GARY Cahill has denied accusations money was the main thing that drove him to Stamford Bridge.

The defender's wage demands were subject to a drawn-out period of negotiation over the last few weeks, all explicitly covered by the media in detail.

But the former Bolton man (pic) says money is not his biggest motivating factor.

He said: “You've got to understand how big a move this was for me. The contract was five-and-a-half years out of my career. Everything had to be right so I was comfortable in coming here.

“And in the end it was. So now I come here happy everything is in place, and we can move and settle in as a family. Now I can concentrate on my football – that's the main thing.”

The England centre half says it was difficult seeing media coverage suggesting wage demands were down to greed on his part – especially as he becomes a free agent in the summer.

“It was really hard,” he said. “Because that's the perception I got (reading about it in the papers).

“It was difficult for me to see some of the stories. I obviously know different stuff.

“If it was about wages, I would have waited until the end of the season. Everyone knows.

“But that wasn't the situation. I wanted to come and play football at a high level. It was unfortunate that it was out in the press.”